The City of Gray’s Downtown Development Authority looked at a possible zoning overlay around the courthouse and the support of a tribute to Otis Redding.

Chairman Sherri Rollins began the April 8 meeting with a discussion of challenges of securing approval from the city council for the Master Plan for downtown Gray. She said City Attorney Joan Harris suggested the needs for metes and bounds for the plan, which would mean costly surveys.

“I’m hoping we can get the plan approved as a concept, not a financial obligation,” Rollins said.

The chairman said her goal is to work on that approval this month.

She asked zoning officer Tim Pitrowski to talk about the zoning overlay for the courthouse square and he explained that the overlay is used in other cities.

“The overlay is on top of the current zoning to add an extra layer of protection. If you build within that district, you have added criteria and restraints,” Pitrowski said.